“Trump Loyalist Mixes Businesses and Access at ‘Advisory’ Firm”

About a week after leaving his old firm, Mr. Lewandowski started a new consulting business, according to corporate filings. And now, as he takes on an increasingly broad role as an unofficial White House adviser, he is building a roster of clients with major interests before the Trump administration, including an Ohio-based payday lender seeking to block or overturn new federal financial regulations.

Mr. Lewandowski appears to be positioning his new firm as an “advisory” business, part of a growing cohort of Washington influencers who advise companies on how to navigate the government but do not register as lobbyists or disclose their clients. A draft contract obtained by The New York Times stipulates that Mr. Lewandowski’s firm “cannot and will not engage in any lobbying or advocacy services.”…

But Mr. Lewandowski, who is known for his keen understanding of Mr. Trump’s news media tastes and habits, used an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday to press his new client’s interests, calling for Mr. Trump to oust the bureau’s director, Richard Cordray, an Obama holdover who has led the effort to pass new payday lending requirements.

“It’s my recommendation to the president of the United States to fire Richard Cordray,” Mr. Lewandowski said….

Rejecting a question from the “Meet the Press” host, Chuck Todd, about whether he had “a client that wants to see” Mr. Cordray fired, Mr. Lewandowski said: “No, no. I have no clients whatsoever.” He explained his opposition to Mr. Cordray by pointing to a similar position taken by Representative Jeb Hensarling, Republican of Texas and the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who has called on Mr. Trump to dismiss Mr. Cordray.